Individual Topical Review Paper Outline

Technology Advances in Transportation : Flying Cars

1. Specific Innovation of Interest
Flying cars which means mass produced vehicles that can be driven on the road and also take off and fly in the sky. This flying car must be practical to use and available to all public.

2. Rationale for Selecting this Innovation
This innovation will change the way people travel. Travelling time will be greatly reduced and the problem of traffic congestion which is prevalent in most cities will be solved when cars are taken to the air. With flying cars, there may not even be a need for airplanes travel. The travelling methods of people will change drastically with this revolutionary innovation.

3. Proposed Approach to Development of Paper
Executive Summary
Sitting amidst a sea of cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic on an endless expresswa­y, have you ever daydreamed about your car taking off and flying over the road? Imagine if you could just flip a switch and unshackle yourself from the asphalt!
Traffic jams are the bane of any commuter. Many of us spend an hour or so stuck in traffic every week. The growing population is partly to blame for our congested roads, but the main problem is that we are not expanding our transportation systems fast enough to meet ever increasing demands. One solution is to create a new type of transportation that doesn't rely on roads, which could one day make traffic jams a 20th century relic. To do this, we must look to the sky.1
Background/ Introduction
Short history of flying cars
In 1917, Glenn Curtiss came out with the first flying car called 'Curtiss Autoplane'. The Autoplane never truly flew but manage to do a few short hops. In 1937, Waldo Waterman came out with the 'Arrowbile' which is a three-wheeled car powered by 100 horsepower Studebaker engine. However it did not work due to lack of funding. In 1946, Robert Fulton developed the 'Airphibian' but it did not work out due to lack of financial backing. In the 1940s, ConvAirCar was developed, a two-door sedan equipped with a detachable airplane unit. However it was not successful and crashed on its third flight. Next, Moulton Taylor invented the 'Aerocar' which was considered on of the most successful flying car to date.1

These pioneers never managed to develop a viable flying car, and some even died testing their inventions. However, they proved that a car could be built to fly, and inspired a new group of roadable aircraft enthusiasts. With advances in lightweight material, computer modeling and computer-controlled aircraft, the dream is very close to becoming reality.

Historical Perspective
Brief history of transportation
It started in about 3500BC, fixed wheels on cart are invented - the first wheeled vehicles in history. Other early wheeled vehicles include the chariot. Then in 2500BC, horses are domesticated and use for transportation. The first vehicle to move under its own power for which there is a record was designed by Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and constructed by M. Brezin in 1769. From then on, cars have taken over the world by storm and it is the most widely used method of transportation today.2

Current Situation
Without automobiles in our life, we may still be riding horseback across town. We could get no where fast and there would be far less travel in the world which means far less money being made. However, with the ever increasing rate of cars on the road, traffic congestion are going to cost people time, money and many more problems. Thus, the introduction of the flying cars where people can travel in the wide airspace where traffic congestion will no longer be a problem of today.

Currently in the market, U.S. company Terrafugia developed the flying car called the Transition Roadable Light Sport Aircraft which will be manufactured by 2012, can be transformed from a car to a plane in just 30 seconds.3

Positive Arguments for Flying Cars
-Cool
-Solve traffic congestion problem
-Save time on travelling
-Aid in warfare, stealth mission and mobility of tanks

Negative Arguments for Flying Cars
-Practicality and safety issues
-Costly at first, will create a have and have-nots gap
-Security and privacy issues
-Pollution
-Better alternatives like improving public transport

References
1. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/flying-car1.htm
2. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_transportation.htm
3. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/109522/20110207/flying-cars-terrafugia.htm